I am a molecular biology Ph.D. student with a background in computer science, and primarily interested in synthetic and systems biology. My current research involves biosensor development based on the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a bHLH-PAS protein that senses environmental toxins including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).By directed evolution, we are optimizing the AhR for sensitivity and specificity, and composing reporter cells into biosensors with programmable response functions.

I am also studying the PAH response pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana by comparing microarray results from this condition against large public microarray datasets. From this comparison, we aim to elucidate unique aspects of the PAH response, as well as commonality with known stress response pathways. This information will be used to identify the rate-determining steps of PAH uptake and catabolism, thereby providing reengineering targets to improve the phytoremediation capability of the plant.